On behalf of the conversion of industry towards a model of sustainability, promoted by EU, large-scale cultivation of microalgae represent one of the most important sectors. Microalgae are known to be source of biomolecules, such as fatty acids, proteins, polysaccharides, vitamins and antioxidants, that is why they are highly considered in biodiesel, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmeceutical and feed industries. An industrial plant for microalgae cultivation can also be considered as an example of biorefinery, as it produces low waste. In fact, after metabolites extraction, biomass has still a high content of proteins and polysaccharides, useful for feeding; in the spent medium, many biostimulants can be recovered and employed as biofertilizers; moreover, the water from the spent medium can be recycled, after depuration by resins and membranes. Further, by industrial symbiosis, a CO2-producing process can be coupled with a microalgae cultivation system, to avoid CO2 emissions in the atmosphere. In such a way, microalgae cultivation can be considered as a tool for the reduction of greenhouse gases, following the guidelines established by the Paris Agreement on climate change. Our team has participated to the PON project “C3 – Carbon capture & Conversion” for the development of an industrial plant for microalgae cultivation, settled in Caltagirone (CT). Tubular photobioreactors (PBRs) have been produced by the project leader Plastica Alfa s.p.a. for a working volume of 40,000 liters. The process critical parameters, that is light intensity, nutritional factors, termoregulation and the control of cultural conditions by adaptive automation systems, have been performed on pilot scale tubular PBRs with a working volume of 250 liters. Here we present results about the effect of light source and intensities on biomass growth and yields of S. maxima, Coccomyxa sp., Nannochloropsis sp., and Scenedesmus sp. at laboratory and pilot scale. The data indicate that light intensity modulation throughout the cultivation process is an aspect that has to be taken into account for the optimization of biomass yield, as it allows a reduction of the plant energetic costs.
Microalgae cultivation as a strategic sector for a sustainable ecological transition
Nicolò M. S.
;Rizzo M. G.;Zammuto V.;Spanò A.;Guglielmino S. P. P.;Riccobene P.;Gugliandolo C.
2021-01-01
Abstract
On behalf of the conversion of industry towards a model of sustainability, promoted by EU, large-scale cultivation of microalgae represent one of the most important sectors. Microalgae are known to be source of biomolecules, such as fatty acids, proteins, polysaccharides, vitamins and antioxidants, that is why they are highly considered in biodiesel, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmeceutical and feed industries. An industrial plant for microalgae cultivation can also be considered as an example of biorefinery, as it produces low waste. In fact, after metabolites extraction, biomass has still a high content of proteins and polysaccharides, useful for feeding; in the spent medium, many biostimulants can be recovered and employed as biofertilizers; moreover, the water from the spent medium can be recycled, after depuration by resins and membranes. Further, by industrial symbiosis, a CO2-producing process can be coupled with a microalgae cultivation system, to avoid CO2 emissions in the atmosphere. In such a way, microalgae cultivation can be considered as a tool for the reduction of greenhouse gases, following the guidelines established by the Paris Agreement on climate change. Our team has participated to the PON project “C3 – Carbon capture & Conversion” for the development of an industrial plant for microalgae cultivation, settled in Caltagirone (CT). Tubular photobioreactors (PBRs) have been produced by the project leader Plastica Alfa s.p.a. for a working volume of 40,000 liters. The process critical parameters, that is light intensity, nutritional factors, termoregulation and the control of cultural conditions by adaptive automation systems, have been performed on pilot scale tubular PBRs with a working volume of 250 liters. Here we present results about the effect of light source and intensities on biomass growth and yields of S. maxima, Coccomyxa sp., Nannochloropsis sp., and Scenedesmus sp. at laboratory and pilot scale. The data indicate that light intensity modulation throughout the cultivation process is an aspect that has to be taken into account for the optimization of biomass yield, as it allows a reduction of the plant energetic costs.Pubblicazioni consigliate
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